Rosa hybrida shrub named &#39;auslofty&#39;

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSlofty’ is disclosed. The ‘AUSlofty’ rose is a plant suitable for repeat flowering production having medium apricot blooms, a strong tea fragrance and a vigorous upright growth.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims priority to a United Kingdom Breeder'sRight Certificate Application No. AFP 5/2100, filed Oct. 16, 2007, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

CLASSIFICATION

The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida shrub.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘AUSlofty’.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plantnamed ‘AUSlofty’, which was originated by crossing two unnamed,unpatented varieties of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a very healthyrepeat flowering variety having apricot blooms with a strong fragranceand vigorous upright growth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventoris the following combination of characteristics: apricot blooms with astrong fragrance and vigorous upright growth.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed ingreenhouses at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that theforegoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form andare established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.‘AUSlofty’ may be asexually propagated by budding and grafting. Thebudding and grafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosacv. ‘Dr. Huey’ in the United States and on the plant/rootstock Rosadumetorum cv. ‘Laxa’ in the United Kingdom.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the followingcombination of characteristics: whereas the parent has pink blooms,‘AUSlofty’ bears flowers of apricot and a strong tea fragrance. The newvariety is classified as a hybrida rose with a broad growing habit.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas the pollen parentbears small yellow blooms, ‘AUSlofty’ bears medium size flowers ofapricot.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the new variety is the‘AUSwinter’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,484). The new rose may bedistinguished from the ‘AUSwinter’ variety by the following combinationof characteristics: the ‘AUSwinter’ has more petals, and a strongeranthocyanin color on the new growth compared to ‘AUSlofty’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 2 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Albrighton, Britain in the month of September.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant during the    growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.-   Bud:    -   -   Size.—About 1.9 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter when the            petals start to unfurl.        -   Form.—The bud form is pointed ovoid.        -   Color.—When sepals first divide, the bud color is Orange            Group 28A. When half blown, the upper sides of the petals            are Orange Group 25B, and the lower sides of the petals are            Yellow-Orange Group 21B.        -   Calyx.—Shape: funnel-shaped.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Regular. Color: Upper Surface:            Greyed-Green Group 193B. Lower Surface: Yellow-Green Group            144A. Length: 2.5 cm. Width: 1 cm. Shape: Subulate. Surface            texture: Upper Surface: Pubescent. Lower Surface: Smooth.            Number: There are three lightly appendaged sepals. There are            3 unappendaged sepals. Apex: The typical and observe sepal            apex has medium extensions. Margin: The typical and observe            unappendaged sepals have glandular edges.        -   Receptacles.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Shape: Funnel.            Size: small, about 0.8 cm×0.7 cm. Surface: Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: medium, averaging about 6 cm. Diameter:            The typical and observed diameter is about 3 mm. Surface:            Smooth. Color: Yellow-Green Group 146A overlaid with strong            concentration of Greyed-Purple Group 184A. Strength: Normal.-   Blooms:    -   -   Size.—Medium, average open diameter is about 9 cm.        -   Borne.—In clusters of 5-7 blooms having corymb shaped            inflorescence.        -   Stems.—Strength: Normal, average length is about 75 cm.            Diameter: 4 mm.        -   Form.—When first open, bloom is cupped. Permanence of bloom:            Outer petals curl back.-   Petalage: Number of petals under normal conditions: 90.    -   -   Color.—The upper sides of the petals are Orange Group 24A.            The reverse sides of the petals are Yellow-Orange Group 23D.            The base of the petals is Yellow-Orange Group 22B.        -   Discoloration.—The general tonality at the end of the first            day is: Orange Group 24A. At the end of the third day is:            Yellow-Orange Group 22C. Fragrance.—Strong. Character of            fragrance: Tea.-   Petals:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Size.—Width: 2.7 cm. Length: 4 cm.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Margin.—Notched, to varying degrees.        -   Apex shape.—Emarginate.        -   Base shape.—Obtuse.        -   Form.—Slightly incurved.        -   Arrangement.—Quartered.        -   Petaloids.—Number: None.        -   Persistence.—Petals hang on and dry.        -   Lastingness.—On the plant: fair, about 5-6 days. As a cut            flower: about 3-4 days.-   Reproductive parts:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 13. Length: 6.5 mm.        -   Anthers.—Length: 1.5 mm. Color: Yellow-Orange Group 17C.            Arrangement: Regular around styles.        -   Filaments.—Color: Yellow Group 13B. Length: 10 mm.        -   Pollen.—Color: Yellow-Orange Group 17C.        -   Pistils.—Number: 20-25. Length: 9.5-10 mm.        -   Styles.—Color: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Length: 9 mm.        -   Stigmas.—Color: Yellow-Orange Group 22A. Length: 0.5-1 mm.        -   Hips.—None Observed.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

-   Plant form: Shrub.-   Plant growth: Vigorous and upright.-   Age to maturity: Two years.-   Mature plant: Height: 1.5 m. Width: 1 m.-   Rootstock: Rosa ‘Dr. Huey for U.S. and Rosa dumetorum cv. ‘Laxa’ for    observed plants in the U.K.-   Foliage:    -   -   Number.—Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is: 5-7            (including terminal leaflet).        -   Size.—Medium, about 15 cm Long×9 cm wide.        -   Quantity.—Normal. Number of leaves per flowering stem is:            14.        -   Color.—New foliage: Upper side: Yellow-Green Group 146B,            overlaid with Greyed-Red Group 181B. Lower side:            Yellow-Green Group 146C. Old foliage: Upper side: Green            Group N134A. Lower side: Green Group 137C.-   Leaflets:    -   -   Size.—About 5 cm long×3 cm wide.        -   Shape.—Oval.        -   Base shape.—Obtuse.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Texture.—Wrinkled.        -   Edge.—Serrated.        -   Serrations.—Single.        -   Petiole.—Color: Green Group 137B with some patches of            Greyed-Red Group 181A. Length: 3 cm. Width: 2 mm. Surface            Texture: Prickly.        -   Petiole rachis.—Color: Green Group 138A with some patched of            Greyed-Red Group 181A. Underside: with prickles.        -   StipuLes.—Length: 2.2 cm, glandular. Color: Yellow-Green            Group 144B.        -   Auricle.—Shape: Awl-shaped. Length: 3 mm. Width: 1.5 mm at            base tapering to point. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Vein color.—Green Group 137C.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.-   Wood:    -   -   New wood.—Color: Greyed-Purple Group 183A. Bark: Smooth.        -   Old wood.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 146B. Bark: Smooth.-   Branching habit:    -   -   Number.—8 per main stem.        -   Lateral branch dimensions.—Length: 30 cm. Diameter: 3 mm.-   Stems:    -   -   Mature stem.—Length: 90 cm. Diameter: 4 mm.        -   Internode distance.—10 cm. The above measurements are all            variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.        -   Stem pubescence present.—No.        -   Color.—Green Group 146B.-   Prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—On main canes from base: few. Number per stem            length: 5 per 10 cm. On laterals from main canes: few.            Number per stem length: 3 per 10 cm.        -   Form.—Hooked downward.        -   Length.—10 mm.        -   Color when young.—Red-Purple Group 60A.        -   Color when mature.—Greyed-Orange Group 177A.-   Small prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—Main stalk: None. Laterals: None.-   Disease resistance:    -   -   Mildew.—Resistant to Powdery Mildew and Downy Mildew.        -   Blackspot.—Resistant.        -   Rust.—Resistant.-   Pest resistance: Not tested.-   Winter hardiness: Not tested.-   Growing conditions: Normal for a garden rose, namely, outdoors in    soil.

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the shrub class suitablefor repeat flower production, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.